Election 2007/North Central board
Candidates hope to be on board for construction

Published: November 1, 2007 4:02 AM

By BRYAN SCHAAF

Staff Writer

N. CENTRAL DISTRICT -- A retired educator, farmer and two business owners will vie for three seats on the board.

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Incumbents Nancy McIlvaine, John Steiner and Rob Stoller, along with Jerry Miller have thrown their hats into the ring with hopes of being in place during the construction of a new elementary building and the renovation and expansion of the high school.

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"That's certainly the current issue," said Steiner, a former teacher and current dairy farmer who has served with McIlvaine and Stoller for the past eight years. "We want to get those buildings up and running. There's going to be a lot of work there, but there will always be changes in the district. That's just something you have to deal with. I don't want to give the impression that the buildings are most important -- the children are and their educational process must go on. As a board I believe we've worked well together. We haven't made any shotgun decisions here. We take our time and I think that shows in the fact that the school building project was approved by 63 percent."

McIlvaine was a teacher and administrator in her 32 years as an educator, and believes those experiences have served her well during her tenure.

"I taught for 30 years and was principal at Sterling Elementary for two," McIlvaine said. "I like being a board member because I enjoy keeping up with the educational process of the schools. I visit classrooms and learn about new programs and things we've adopted in the district. Education has changed tremendously with all the new testing and accountability we have to present to our district and our colleagues. That's why keeping up with the new trends is very important."

McIlvaine, Stoller and Steiner have served together, along with board President Earl Rupp and member Winston Wyckoff III, for the past eight years.

North Central District has achieved a rating of "excellent" on the state report card five years running, and has done so while holding one of the state's lowest per pupil expenditures at $6,919.80.

In addition, even with the new tax levy for the building projects, the district has one of the lowest tax bases in the county.

"I think that's something we've been building toward for years, and I think that's a real tribute to the parents in our district," said Stoller. "It's an expectation we have as a district that forces everybody to step it up. What we've been able to do as a board, particularly with the new buildings, isn't because of who we are, but because of the expectations of the people who voted us in. Don't pat us on the back, pat the community on the back. Sure we handle all the legal stuff, but it's really been a community effort. Those people who understand that education and having good facilities are important are the ones who deserve credit."

Miller, who has owned and operated Servicemaster Professional Cleaning Services out of Creston for 14 years and has four children in the district, said he's running with intentions of maintaining the district's fiscally responsible methods while holding high academic standards.

"I've been real involved with the planning of the new facilities the district is getting and I operate a business in the district," said Miller, who has been the athletic booster club president for the past two years and was also part of the levy campaign and building advisory committee for the district's new schools. "I'm very impressed with how the school is run, especially fiscally, being a business owner myself. I think that says a lot about the leadership there. This is really a great opportunity to get involved more. I think the major thing is staying focused and keeping our standards at that high state level."

Reporter Bryan Schaaf can be reached at (330) 287-1645 or bschaaf@the-daily-record.com.